Have you heard of the latest thing to come down the pike? Lacquerous. It is being touted as Netflix for Nails. A polish sharing service designed to let anyone have access to the latest in mid tier and luxury brand nail polishes without the high price tag or the commitment of ownership. For a mere eighteen dollars a month you can have up to three bottles of high quality nail polish delivered to your door, use each up to three times in a month then send them back in their snug little prepaid mailer and receive three new bottles of the polishes on your list to play with.

Sounds great, huh?

I mean, what could be more fun than opening a package and being greeted by shiny, sparkly bottles of Tom Ford, CHANEL, Butter London, OPI, Dior and more? What can give greater pleasure than smoothing those beautiful lacquers in stunning colours and sparkling glitters onto your nails? What can be more satisfying than knowing that you are wearing the latest, the best, the most beautiful polishes that can be found on your very own hands?

What could be more fun than receiving used nail polish in the mail? Polishes used by total strangers. Total strangers about whom you know absolutely nothing? Who are these people? What kind of hygiene do they practice? Do they keep a clean home? I know that there is not a germ, virus, bacterium, fungus or other living nasty that could possibly survive in the hostile, chemical atmosphere of a bottle of nail polish. However, just knowing that a total stranger has used that polish makes me unhappy. Look, I don't even like to buy polish in a store if there is evidence on the bottle that some random shopper has opened and swatched it, either on themselves or on a shelf, display, the handle of a stroller, the yappy little dog they drag around in their purse... I just don't like it. I don't mind polish sharing with family and friends and I have done a polish swap. But these are circumstances under my control and I am sharing with people I know, trust and with whom I want to share.

I won't be joining Lacquerous. Not now. Not anytime in the future. The issue of sharing nail polish with total strangers aside, this service has what I feel to be a very dark side to it. Their Terms of Use. Their rules of the game. All of which are rigged heavily in their own favor and some of which, in my own opinion are suspicious if not downright sneaky and underhanded.

Let us examine one of the rules of the game, shall we? Polish usage. According to the website's FAQ page you may use each bottle "up to approximately three applications in a month". Uh... What? Up to approximately three applications in a month? What exactly does up to approximately three applications constitute? Is it a set amount of polish averaged out across a wide cross section of the polish wearing population as the normal and customary amount of polish used three times? Is there a mark on the bottle when you receive it that shows the fill line and another to tell you that you may not use past that point?

Lacquerous says that they "monitor the amount of nail lacquer in each bottle" to keep track of usage. How? How exactly do they monitor the amount of lacquer in each bottle and how do they prove that they sent an exact quantity to Customer X and that Customer X returned the bottle having used an appropriate amount of the polish. But what is an appropriate amount? Some people have very long nails and use a lot of polish every time they polish their nails. Others have very short nails and use less. I have what I consider long active length nails. However, I probably use more polish than another person with similar length nails because while they may paint thinner coats, I paint thicker coats. Do you see how this nebulous rule can quickly dissolve into utter chaos? I sure can.

According to the Lacquerous Terms of Use page they can and will charge your credit card an extra amount if they feel that you used too much of their polish. How much extra would they charge and how would they determine that you used too much polish? According to their terms, you can't argue the point with them. If they feel that you used too much, damaged their property (they don't spell out damage) or otherwise used it inappropriately, according to them, they will slap additional charges on your credit card. Charges that again, they do not spell out clearly as to amounts. Five dollars? Ten? Fifty? I don't know about you but there is no way on God's green Earth I am going to give my credit card number to a company who lays down terms like these. I might as well just hand it over and tell them to use it as they want as that is what you are doing, if you agree to their Terms of Use, as I have read them.

So, tell me gentle reader, when was the last time you had a credit check run? None of my business, you say? You are entirely correct. It is none of my business. But it is Lacquerous's business. That's right. Read that Terms of Use page very, very carefully, my friend. They reserve the right, at their discretion to run a credit check on you. Nice, huh? The thought of a credit check, one that will, by the way count against you and your FICO score makes those shiny, pretty bottles of polish look a little less shiny? A bit less pretty?

Uh-oh! You forgot that you had to send that package of rented polish back. Unless you promptly notify Lacquerous that there will be a little delay in returning them, you will be charged for the polish (s) and return shipping. So, lets get this straight, you pay the return shipping if you are late, pay for the replacement value of the polishes then return the polishes anyway. If I read that right, you just bought (used) polish at new polish replacement prices that you don't get to keep.Wow. Just... Wow.

Here's some more really cute shenanigans for you. When they send the package of polish to you, they insure it and put tracking and delivery confirmation on the package. Fair and square, so far. I would do the same. But, say that the package goes missing, which packages can and do. Guess what? You get to investigate and track and try to find that package and if you fail, they not only get paid by the insurance that they took out on the package for the replacement value of the polishes but they will charge you for the replacement value of the polishes, as well. In my neck of the woods, we call that double dipping. And while it might not be illegal, it is underhanded. And it is not something with which I am willing to get tangled up. And, from a lot of the reading I am doing and tweets I am seeing, neither are many of my fellow bloggers.

If you still think that Lacquerous is a good thing, if you want to try it, by all means do so. I am not your mama, I am not going to tell you what to do. But I strongly encourage you to thoroughly read their Terms of Use page before you sign up. Read it a couple of times. Because let me assure you, it makes for interesting reading. While the language of the page is in Legalese, it isn't too complicated. I am no walking brain trust and I understood it just fine. And I still don't like it. And I won't be going anywhere near it.

Have you heard of Lacquerous? Have you done your reading on the service? What do you think? Like the idea? Maybe not so much? I'd really like to hear your opinion and thoughts on this new service. And yes, I even want to hear them if you completely disagree with me and think I am full of horse feathers.

I'm a fifty-something, coffee addicted, empty nesting, sarcastic beauty/lifestyle blogger who believes that life is too short for stupid rules, especially those that pertain to people in my age bracket. If you feel the same way, you may be a member of my tribe.

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84 comments

Yeah...no. I don't mind sharing some polish among friends, but even if I were comfortable with the idea of being sent bottles that have been used by total strangers, their whole, "We'll run your credit and decide if you owe us more money," angle just doesn't fly with me. It's a really fun idea, but the practicals just...aren't. Then again, I doubt they include shipping to Hong Kong, so they probably don't want me anyway. :P

I entered my email before reading the terms yesterday and I completely agree with you. Fortunately I'm in the UK anyway but I would never be involved in something like this, it just sounds...dodgy! Hopefully I can get my email removed so they don't pester me.

I entered my email address to get updates before Lacquerous even revealed what they were all about - months ago. I thought it would be a monthly service to BUY designer brand polish. Even if they chose the colors I thought it would be a better deal. It was a no go for me as soon as I heard that it was renting polish. Ick! Now that I've read your post, I'll definitely not be getting into it. Not that I planned on it after hearing how it works. What a shady way to do business. I manage my finances VERY carefully. Anything that isn't in the budget (i.e charging on shipping & hidden fees) is a definite deal breaker for me. I like plans. Not to mention, the obvious outcry of most nail polish bloggers against it, really solidifies it for me. Total no go for me.

Exactly. No way would I consent to a polish sharing service running my credit. Nor would I consent to them charging my credit card for any amount that they pull out of their asses at their discretion. It's just crazy.

That's just... ick. The terms are definitely ick. Being able to 'rent' stuff squicks me out anyways... I don't want to wear a dress some total random stranger has worn, or jewelry that they've had in their ears... and I certainly don't want to use a bottle of polish that's been passed around more than the 'neighborhood bicycle'.

I couldn't agree more. I doubt that bacteria could actually live in the polish (which is one of their claims) but what about viruses? Heck what if someone has a bleeding cut on their hands and gets their blood on or inside the bottle? Will bottles be sterilized every time they are returned to the company? (... I doubt it).

And this whole three usage thing.. My first thought went to the girls with really long nails vs my short nails. I could paint my nails 3 times and not use as much polish as them painting their long nails once. What about girls who use three or four coats instead of one or two?

i think you pretty much summed it up. I was so excited when I first heard about this. I was hoping it would be like so many of the other discount sites, but only for polish! renting polish...ick. Plus, their terms are...scary. The postal service is notorious for loosing or breaking things. So if i send it back, and mr mail man smooshes the box and the bottle breaks...bet you I would get a giant bill. Yeah..no. If I'm going to spend money on used polish it will be from friends or bloggers selling off excess polish they have swatched. Thanks for pointing out all the scary bits of their terms! eek!

I clicked off the website after they said I had to send the polish back! So what exactly am I paying $18 for?? I might as well spend the additional $7 to buy the Chanel polish myself and use it as many times as I want. Frankly, I think the service is trying to cater to the polish loving crowd, but not actually providing something that we want. If we want a luxury polish most of us save up or splurge- we don't rent our bottles.

The terms are scary. I read that page and my blood ran cold. I get needing to protect your product and your business but cripes! It's nail polish sharing, not buying a house! Your question about people decanting the good stuff and filling the bottles with cheap-o dupes was one of my first concerns. This program has disaster written all over it, IMO.

I'm not too worried about viruses. They can't live in the chemical stew that is nail polish but just the idea that random strangers are all up in it? No thank you. Sharing or swapping with friends or people you know and trust is one thing, this is something else, entirely and I don't like it.

Usage is a very individual thing. Some people have very long nails, some very short. I have active length nails but I would most likely use up more polish than someone else with the same length nails because I apply thicker coats than some. It's all just too nebulous and trust us, we know what's going on for my taste. LOL

When I first heard of this, I thought it was going to be high end polishes you get to keep. Uh, nope. Renting a bag? I could probably go for that, especially for a special event or something but polish? No thank you.

I was really distressed by their terms for lost or broken bottles. The customer has no protection according to their Terms of Use.

I agree, if I am going to buy or borrow polish, it is going to be from people I know, trust and WANT to buy from or share with. :)

We don't rent because we never had the option to rent. 18 bucks to try different Chanel (or 3) every month isn't bad at all when you think about it. At $23 a pop - that's $69 bucks to keep (and hoard when I move) - it's inefficient. BTW - Most companies have similar Terms including Birchbox. If knowing a total stranger used your bottle 'makes you unhappy' then yeh, this isn't for you. But 'unhappiness' doesn't constitute for a bad business idea. In fact, they have a long waiting list... me included!

Well tracking shows when bottles don't arrive to the person delivered. That's the point of tracking and insurance. As for the Terms, it's pretty standard stuff. Why would they do something illegal? This is a silly blogpost full of emotions. SMH.

Depends on your definition of hoarding. What you consider hoarding, owning and oh... Having to move nail polish may be hoarding to you. I prefer to think of it as owning and collecting. I personally don't find it inefficient. But, as they say, different strokes. You;re right, my personal "unhappiness" doesn't constitute a bad business model but shady, possibly usurious Terms of Use certainly do, in my opinion.

If you are comfortable giving Lacquerous complete freedom to charge your credit card for unspecified amounts of money up to and including damages as they define them at will while giving you no right to argue said charges and to run a credit check that is unnecessary and could put a ding on your FICO score, then you are free to do so. I personally am not willing to give that much control over my financial information and credit just to rent nail polish. Look, I am just pointing out that renting polish might not be for everyone and I encourage anyone who chooses to use this service to read their Terms of Use very carefully so that they know what they are getting themselves in for. Forewarned is forearmed.

justsayin, I understand how package tracking and insurance works. I use it regularly. My issue with Lacquerous's Terms of Use is that they specify in said terms that they use tracking and insurance (as they should, it's only smart) but if the package gets lost, the onus is on the CUSTOMER to track and locate the package. If the package isn't located, Lacquerous collects money on the insurance for the replacement value of new bottles of polish, which is fine, then CHARGES THE CUSTOMER for the bottles that were lost, as well. They assume absolutely no risk and if the polishes get lost in the mail they get paid twice for them. Once by the insurance and once by the customer. It's called double dipping and it's shady and in the opinions of more people than just me, wrong.

A silly blog post full of emotion? Not from my point of view. I just don't want to see people get ripped off. If they like the service, fine, they are free to use it I just encourage them to read the Terms of Use carefully so that they are fully informed about what they are signing up for. I don't think that that is silly, at all.

No company is going to run a the risk of banks coming after them for fraud...and it doesn't make sense why they would engage in illegal activity. In an age of internet everything, bringing up a FICO score is pretty ridiculous. The most damages they can charge is for the product and if you rent something and damage or abuse it, that's pretty standard dontcha think? Sheesh..

I didn't say that they are engaging in illegal activity. I said that I didn't like their Terms of Use, that some of it felt wrong to me and I would never agree with them.

I don't think that bringing up a FICO score is ridiculous, at all. When companies run credit checks, your FICO score takes a hit. If you are planning a major purchase, buying a home or trying to repair your credit score, hits against your FICO score can hurt your chances of getting a mortgage, a car loan or any other credit. Seems to me to be an extreme price to pay for a few coats of nail polish.

Yes, it is standard to charge someone if they ruin something that they rent. That is why we pay deposits, first and last months rent and so on. I don't object to them wanting to protect themselves and their inventory. I wouldn't have a problem with them saying that if you ruin their product they are going to charge you for it. I do object to the fact their terms are too nebulous and don't clearly spell out their definition of damage but they reserve the right to charge your credit card at will for those damages, including what they term "liquid" damages above and beyond the amount that it would cost to replace the ruined polish. I do object to double dipping and credit checks as terms to rent nail polish.

Look, riri, if you like the service and want to go for it, do it. I'm not your mama, I am not telling you what to do. My blog post was an opinion piece, written from my point of view. It wasn't a judgment against anyone who wants to join up and rent nail polish. I was merely saying that I don't like it and why.

Tracking only shows that it didn't arrive, nothing more. But since it does show that it didn't arrive (and they are being reimbursed through the insurance they bought), why would YOU want to pay them for something you never received? Because that's what you are agreeing to do, pay them any amount they choose to charge against your card. You won't even know if those Chanel's or Tom Ford's they're claiming they're charging you for were really less expensive polishes.

I really have to laugh at the 2 whiny 'Why would they cheat? That's illllleeegal!!!' posters. No ladies, it's not. Why? Because they spelled it out in the TOS and you agreed to it. It's all perfectly legal. Is it honest? No. Is it good business? Lol, no. But if they are only in it to make a fast buck, customer satisfaction isn't anywhere on their agenda. And you wouldn't be able to fight ridiculous charges made on your credit card even if you were willing to pay a lawyer to do so, because you agreed to their terms.

One thing I'd like to know, how does anyone know that what is in the bottle is the real deal? It's not hard to decant the real thing into an empty bottle and refill the empty high end bottle with a similar $2 polish. Anyone that falls for this is a total sucker.

NEWSFLASH: When you go to the nail salon, you are sharing polish with strangers. I think this is the most ridiculous review I have ever read about any business or brand. Talk about dissecting every little thing they say and making it negative. WOW. Shame on you. You just totally destroyed the integrity of your blog!

TOS doesn't matter because when it comes to the legal process. Go to Bag, Borrow Or Steal. They have similar TOS. You obviously haven't done this before nor do you know the law. Stupid. You just as pathetic as the woman who wrote this post.

You can fight charges via your bank and the law (you should good 'law') trumps any company's TOS. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. There's a risk with everything including what you buy to EAT. You need to quite being a hater. Your bad at it.

NEWSFLASH: I don't go to salons. I do my own nails. And I am perfectly aware that polish in salons is shared, I went to them for years, to have acrylics done and polished. My manicurist was obsessive about hygiene and took care not to use polish on dirty nails or open sores on customers. This service can't control the hygiene of their clients.

This was not a review, I have not used the service, thus I am unable to write a review on it. This is an OPINION PIECE based on the reading and research I did. Two very different animals, which you would know, if you had actually paid attention to what I wrote. I didn't dissect every little thing, if I had, this post would have been a hell of a lot longer because trust me, there is a hell of a lot that can be dissected and said about this service and their Terms of Use. I barely cracked the surface.

Look, you are entitled to your opinion, just as I am, mine. I expressed my OPINION about this service based on the research I did, I didn't say anything that was untrue or in my eyes, unfair. I didn't do anything of which I should feel ashamed. Nor do I feel that I destroyed the integrity of my blog. In fact, I believe that I upheld it by writing my honest opinion about a nail polish rental service. This blog centers on nail polish, Lacquerous is a service designed to rent out nail polish to it's subscribers. I was intrigued, I looked it over, read their Terms of Service and didn't like what I saw and I wrote an opinion piece about it. I would have been failing in my duty to my readers if I had kept silent.

Exactly, Sandi. This whole business smells to me like bad fish because of the Terms of Service. The Terms are completely skewed in the favor of the company and gives the customer no recourse in the event that the customer feels that they were charged too much or unfairly. Clients of this service, from my reading of the Terms of Use are signing away all of their rights to the company and giving them free reign over their credit card. That is, in my opinion scary. I would never give a subscription service that much power over my credit card. Never. I don't care how fancy and beautiful the polish is (and I love polish!) it isn't worth that kind of risk, to me.

I didn't raise the decant and swap out expensive for cheapie polish point in my article but it is being discussed in circles in which I travel here online. I would love to believe that everyone who uses this service would play by the rules, use perfect hygiene, use the polish as they are supposed to and leave the polish that came in the bottle in the bottle but we both know that not everyone has enough integrity to do so. I don't trust random total strangers that much. I wish that I could but no. I know that I can't. It's sad, really.

Nicki, I don't believe that Sandi is being a hater. Like me, she has read about the subscription service and has read and fully understands their Terms of Service and she didn't like what she read any more than I did. She also brings up the excellent point that while you, personally may behave with perfect integrity when you use the service, others may not. How would you like to find out that you were paying eighteen dollars a month to use Chanel nail polish only to learn that the bottle was emptied of it's expensive contents and a five dollar dupe poured in in it's place? You would feel pretty danged ripped off wouldn't you?

What if the company made a mistake or charged you more than you felt was fair for something they think you did to ther polish? By the Terms of Use, you have no recourse to fight those terms and since they don't spell out damage to their product, they can call anything from a gunked up bottle neck to a chipped or cracked bottle damage and charge you for replacement and liquid damages, even if you didn't personally damage the bottle. If they think you did, they will take your money and you will have no way to protest it.

Look, if you like the service, by all means, go ahead and use it. I am not telling you that you shouldn't. I an merely saying that in my opinion, the Terms are scary and the service it's self has flaws that the owners didn't think through carefully enough. I hope that you enjoy using the service, that everything goes smoothly and its great for you and all of their customers.

Terms of Service do matter, riri. When you click I Agree to the Terms of Service you are signing a legally binding contract. And the law isn't going to jump to your defense unless you can prove, without a doubt that you were duped, forced to sign against your will or that the company went beyond the terms to which you agreed. If you agree to their terms and they do something that you feel was wrong, if they act within the terms, you will have no legal recourse.

Calling people stupid and pathetic for expressing their opinion in a reasonable manner tells me that you are likely very young and not yet wise to the ways of the world. As I have said before, you are free to use the service, I am not telling you not to. Nor am I attacking you personally for doing so. I merely expressed my opinion about the service based on my reading and research. If you don't agree with my opinion, that is fine. That is your right. However, coming to my blog and calling me and my gentle readers names is not fine. It is not acceptable. If you can't behave like a reasonable adult, please stay away.

Well said. I just want people to read the Terms of Use on the site and read them carefully. People need to make informed decisions. I am curious to see how this all works out. I will be watching it closely.

You know, You obviously wouldn't recognize integrity if it walked up and introduced itself. If you fools want to do something stupid, feel free. Nobody said you couldn't, but don't be surprised when you get burned, and don't expect anyone here to feel sorry for you. And since you obviously aren't bright enough to figure it out, WE don't go to the salon, that's why we're here.

You'll excuse me I hope Erika. You tried to do these children a favor by giving them a heads up, but evidently they haven't yet learned common sense. You have to be polite because you are our hostess, I however do not. If these nitwits think that's it's a good idea to give anyone, much less a total stranger at a brand new, suspect business, a right to make open end charges on their credit cards, let them learn the hard way. You know why I think they run the credit check? So they know what the credit limits are and can maximize their take when they start levying 'penalty' charges. Since they would be charging the CC's before the polish was shipped out, if a charge didn't go through they just wouldn't send the polish, thus no legitimate need for a credit check. And I would give anyone, not even my best friend, an open ended right to charge my CC. They will get what they deserve. I am starting to wonder if one or more of these posters isn't connected to this scam in some way.

What are you? 12? Agreeing to the Terms of Service is a binding contract. That's why they're there and why you have to agree before they will do business with you. You'll learn. I just hope it isn't a lesson learned with mommy's credit card.

Nicki, Sandi is right. If you agree to the TOS and the company charges you an insane amount, as long as they act within the TOS you agreed to, you are screwed. You have no legal recourse and there isn't likely an attorney who would touch it.

I would never submit a subscription to something that don't explain precisely costs, eventual charges and so on, and for the amount of polish every costumer can use each round. Everything must be more than clear when we sign up to something! Otherwise we risk to have no chance to have right in front of the law.

Riri is the right name for you, short for retard. and what happens when you send a bottle back and the carrier is the one who breaks it? you cant prove that you didnt do it so they collect your money, and go on their merry way.

evilishpolish is right, Riri, if the polish is smashed in transit, through no fault of your own, the Terms state that YOU pay for the broken bottle of polish. Even tho you didn't break it! AND the company also collects on the insurance. They get a new bottle of polish, plus get paid by you to make extra money on top.of it. You paid full replacement value for polish that you don't own. And, what is to prevent them from charging you for all of the polish in the package, even if just one was broken? Polish spills all over when it breaks, if it gets on the other bottles, they may decide that they are ruined and no longer "Instagram worthy" and charge you for those bottles too, since, in their mind they too are "damaged". Do you see the hornets nest that could possibly be stirred up, here?

Devilishpolish, I am not censoring your free speech but I need to ask you to please not misuse the word "retard" in my comments. I know that many people see it as a form of slang but as a sister of a developmentally disabled person, I see it as a slur, a very painful one, at that. Thank you. <3

I hadn't even thought of that. What is to stop someone from sharing that bottle with all of their friends then dump in a cheap dupe or clear polish to raise the level? Yikes! Imagine paying for expensive polish and getting watered down cheap stuff, instead. Yeah, that's worth eighteen bucks! Not!

I'm sorry I don't think sometimes when I speak and I meant nothin like that by it, between my work people and this I get aggravated pretty quickly and I go off with out thinkin about consequences. I know many people in the same state and I mean no disrespect. Again I'm truly sorry!

When it comes to my money and my credit, I read everything! Especially if I am going to give a company my credit card number to charge on an ongoing basis. I like everything spelled out nice and neat, no nebulous double talk.

I know that a lot of people don't read terms, I am not criticizing or judging anyone who doesn't, I am just encouraging everyone to take control protect themselves. A few coats of pretty polish aren't worth the risk to their finances and credit, in my opinion. :D

Aw, it's okay. I know that you didn't mean any harm or insult. If I had felt that, I would have simply deleted your comment. :) We all pop off and say things that perhaps we didn't think through so well. I know that I have pulled my big old foot out of my mouth more times than I would care to admit and eaten enough crow to feed an army! LOL Truly, it's okay. <3

When I first saw this, I thought it was a pretty good idea-until I saw all the terms as you have pointed out here. There really is no way to monitor the usage from one person to another. So I am not signing up for this at all.

This is an incredible article! Very thorough and thanks for putting the time in researching this. I was intrigued by this service and you honestly took all the words out of my mouth. I agree with you 100%! Such sketchy business practices!

I love to know what you're thinking. I dig honest discourse and lively discussion, even a good debate. I do not dig spam, hate speech or personal attacks either against myself or my gentle readers. Comments containing spam (including links of any kind), hate speech or personal attacks will be deleted.

Welcome!

I'm a fifty-something, coffee addicted, empty nesting, sarcastic beauty/lifestyle blogger who believes that life is too short for stupid rules, especially those that pertain to people in my age bracket. If you feel the same way, you may be a member of my tribe.